An unprecedented 1,479 OC graduates gave to their alma mater during the 2013 fiscal year as part of the university’s “Homeward” campaign. As a result, OC’s alumni participation rate (13.6 percent) surpassed the national average (11.2 percent).

“This is a big victory for Oklahoma Christian,” President John deSteiguer said. “I’m blown away by the generosity and community spirit of our alumni. I’ve long been convinced that OC grads are some of the most caring, hardworking people around – and this proves it. Homeward is their triumph, and I want our alumni everywhere to know we’re celebrating them today.”

The Homeward effort, initiated by OC’s Board of Trustees and developed by the university’s Advancement, Alumni, and Marketing offices, was launched in response to a significant decline in alumni participation, which mirrored a nationwide trend.

A national benchmark for university health and performance, the alumni participation rate measures the percentage of graduates who give any amount to their alma mater in a single fiscal year. Alumni participation impacts OC’s national ranking, community profile, faculty grant opportunities and, ultimately, the ongoing value of an Oklahoma Christian degree.

OC’s total of 1,479 participants not only surpassed the Homeward campaign goal of 1,300 graduate givers, it represented an increase of more than 500 alumni from the previous year.

Homeward participants could give any amount to any campus project. Alumni also had the ability to track participation live online at www.oc.edu/homeward, and each graduate giver received a handwritten card with his or her counter number listed.

“For the first time I can remember, we had alumni calling to verify they had given this year and pointing out other grads we needed to contact,” said Will Blanchard, director of advancement operations. “We had groups ask for materials to share, and Homeward updates saw hundreds of likes and posts on Facebook and Twitter. I want to give a big ‘thank you’ to all of these alumni for participating and getting the word out.”

Oklahoma Christian, recognized as one of the best universities in the western United States by U.S. News and World Report and The Princeton Review, offers undergraduate programs in more than 60 fields of study, an undergraduate Honors Program, and graduate programs in business, engineering, ministry and divinity.

The last eight years have featured OC’s eight highest total enrollments ever, including a record 2,271 students in 2012-13.

-OC-

Leger's house was destroyed while Jennifer Simonds was injured protecting children at Plaza Towers Elementary School. Crawford, who lost his house in a 2011 tornado, helped organize relief efforts for this year's victims.

Here's an excerpt from the article:

“Why did this happen? Why an elementary school? Why little kids?”

Jennifer Simonds flutters between anger and thankfulness as she grapples with those questions.

God “kept me alive and kept my kids alive,” says the 26-year-old kindergarten teacher, who attends the Memorial Road Church of Christ in Oklahoma City with her husband, Colby. The couple met as students at Oklahoma Christian University, next to the church.

The May 20 storm attained EF5 status, cutting a swath of destruction more than a mile wide, as it moved from Newcastle to Moore, where Jennifer Simonds teaches at Plaza Towers Elementary School.

Parents had picked up all but six of the 22 students she teaches during afternoon kindergarten. She made sure the remaining students were in the “duck and cover” position. As the storm got closer, one of the girls asked her if a train had come in the building.

Jennifer Simonds remembers the lights flickering, the sound of breaking glass, the taste of dirt in her mouth as she yelled “we’re going to be fine!”

“I kept praying ... that if anything was to happen, it would happen to me,” she says. “When it was all over ... I sat up on my knees and realized that, on my back, was an upside-down SUV.”

Rescuers pulled the sport utility vehicle away from the teacher and her students. Paramedics took them to a hospital in nearby Norman. They all survived but later learned that seven third-graders, ages 8 and 9, had perished when a wall collapsed on them.

Colby Simonds raced from his work and walked through block after block of debris to reach the school, only to learn that his wife was at the hospital. The couple reunited about five hours after the storm.

Remembering the devastation he saw, “I don’t know how anybody walked away from that,” Colby Simonds says.

Click here to read the full article.

Chairman of the Board Ronald J. Norick announced recently that the Oklahoma State Fair Board of Directors has added, by unanimous approval, two prominent Oklahoma City civic and business leaders - Michelle Coppedge and John deSteiguer - to their ranks.

“Although both of these individuals are relatively new to their respective positions, both have shown proven leadership skills in their professional careers and in the community,” Norick said. “We look forward to involving Michelle and John in the operations of Oklahoma State Fair Inc. These are exciting times for us at State Fair Park as we continue to grow both the facilities and the operation.”

Coppedge was named the director of the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City in April 2013. In 2010, she was selected into the FAA’s Senior Executive Service and was the Program Director of the Logistics Center (FAALC) at the Aeronautical Center. Prior to this role, she served as the Deputy Director for the FAALC.

She is married to Bill Coppedge and they have two children.

deSteiguer became the seventh president of Oklahoma Christian University in May 2012. A native of Tahlequah, deSteiguer has spent almost two decades in higher education. He served Northeastern State University, his alma mater, as the Director of Development from 1993 to 2002 before coming to Oklahoma Christian.

deSteiguer is a member of several civic organizations, including the Oklahoma Bar Association, the Oklahoma Planned Giving Council, the Edmond Rotary Club and the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce, where he serves as vice chairman for governmental relations.

He and his wife Darla have two children and live in Edmond, where John is a deacon at Memorial Road Church of Christ.

In addition to re-electing Ron Norick as chairman, the board also elected the following slate of officers: David Thompson, vice chairman; E. Carey Joullian IV, vice chairman; G. Rainey Williams, Jr., treasurer; Tim O’Toole, president and CEO; and Melissa L. Sikking, corporate secretary.

The Oklahoma State Fair Board of Directors oversees Oklahoma State Fair, Inc., which is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that is dedicated to continuing the organization’s heritage of education, entertainment and economic development.

Formally titled the Thomas H. Olbricht Christian Scholars' Conference, scholars present more than 90 peer-reviewed and generative sessions to advance scholarship, collaboration and engaged dialogue.

This year’s conference theme was "Crises in Ethics: Theology, Business, Law and the Liberal and Fine Arts."

Key speakers included ethics author John Dean, religious studies professor and author Charles Matthews, and David Miller, the founding director of Princeton University’s Faith & Work Initiative. 

Below is a list of OC faculty and students with the title of their presentations:

• Graduate students Robert Davis and Freddie Lorick, Jr., were respondents for the “Civil Rights and the Churches of Christ" session.
• John Harrison, professor of New Testament, presented on “The History and Practice of New Testament Interpretation.”
• James Baird, professor of Bible and philosophy and director of OC’s Honors Program, was a panelist on the session titled, “The Value of High School Research for Universities, Students, and Secondary Educators.”
• Phil Lewis, dean of OC’s College of Professional Studies, was a panelist on the session titled, “Business Deans Speak Out: Teaching in Business Schools.”
• Dan Sorensen, assistant professor of business, presented on “An Accounting Ethics Intervention Based on the Moral Philosophy of Adam Smith.”
• OC Bible professors Charles Rix and James Dvorak were co-conveners of the session titled, “Bahktinian Readings of Cain and Abel and other Narratives in Jewish and Christian Scriptures.”
• Rix presented on “Who is Watching the Children? Ethics of Responsibility in the Story of Cain and Abel.”
• Dvorak presented on “Not Like Cain: Marking Moral Boundaries Through Vilification of the Other in 1 John 3:1-18.”
• Barrett Huddleston, assistant professor of communication, participated in the Theatre and Ethics Session. He presented on “The First Condition: Censorship in Contemporary Value Based Production.”

The Christian Scholars Conference was created in 1981 under the direction of Dr. Thomas H. Olbricht, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Pepperdine University, and has since been hosted by several universities associated with Churches of Christ. 

The conference calls together scholars from a wide variety of disciplines in the liberal arts, sciences, business, law, education and medicine to develop their own academic research and to reflect on the integration of scholarship and faith. 

Families displaced by the May 19-20 storms have been living on the Oklahoma Christian University campus waiting for permanent lodging to be made available.

According to Neil Arter, dean of students, OC has hosted as many as 50 family members displaced from those storms.

As of Monday, OC is hosting 34 family members from about six families while they work to secure more long-term housing.

“Just last night, OC took in a family with a special needs child that had been without a home since May 20,” said Josh Watson, OC spokesman.

In addition, OC’s Honors House, which has 82 beds, has stayed at capacity for a week and a half now as OC has hosted a number of volunteers helping with clean-up and recovery.

Volunteer groups include the Austin Disaster Relief from Austin, Texas, and the Disaster Response Communications team out of Minnesota.

The groups were assisting victims of the tornado with paperwork at Westmoore High School on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Oklahoma Christian campus is busy this week with 200 additional students on campus attending a Love OKC Service Camp. Watson added while the camp was scheduled before the storms, it has become a storm-focused service week.

This weekend, officials expect 75-100 students to join faculty and staff for OC’s Love Your Neighbor storm recovery efforts June 7-11.

-OC-

One of the top national public relations competitions for undergraduate students, the Zenith Awards contest is the only one in which work previously completed in a class or internship may be submitted.

Estrada’s entry was an assignment completed in the OC class Public Relations Principles, which she took last fall. 

For the past two years, the senior from Duncanville, Texas, has also served as an officer in OC’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America.

She was also on a team that placed third at the 2012 Oklahoma Speech Theatre and Communication Association PR student competition. This summer, Jessica is interning in Dallas at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas.

“Jessica is one of our most dedicated and conscientious students,” said Josh Watson, assistant professor of communication and Estrada’s advisor. “We are not surprised that her work was recognized as the best among her peers across the nation. Her servant spirit and pursuit of excellence will continue to set her apart as she begins her career next year.”

The PR Research category included any public relations project that used primary research, secondary research or analysis of research for academic purposes, internship purposes or personal interest. Estrada submitted a communication audit of a national nonprofit organization.

This is the second year in a row that an OC student has received one of the only seven awards given out each year in the national competition. Last year, Joshua Richardson won the award for PR Writing.

Begun in 1998 by the Oklahoma City chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, the Zenith Awards are hosted by the University of Oklahoma. 

To see how some of OC’s recent public relations graduates are benefitting from and contributing to a strong economy in Oklahoma City (and hosting current OC students as interns), see the latest edition of Vision, OC’s alumni magazine. 

-OC-

Tragedy hit close to home this week. The Moore tornado, which struck 20 miles from the OC campus, was cataclysmic. It was massive, strong, and brutal.

Our neighbors on the south side of Oklahoma City lost sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, mentors, and friends. They lost their homes, their possessions, and their normalcy.

We mourn with our OC alumni and all those hurting from the loss of family members. Other alumni and students had their homes destroyed. The damage was far-reaching, and it impacted our community in many ways.

We can’t change what happened, but there are things we can do. The OC family is giving. In fact, a young OC Rwandan student gave $80 to the International Studies Office saying, “Here, use this to help people who need it.”

OC apartments have become temporary homes for displaced families and volunteer relief workers. Our faculty, staff, students, and alumni have joined relief and cleanup crews. They are rallying around those in need, trying in some small way to support and honor our heroes – like the brave OC alumni serving as teachers in Moore who protected, comforted, and shielded their young students during the tornado.

Can I be transparent with you? I like answers. I like to understand. If I have answers and if I understand, I think I can fix things. Or, maybe I can prevent things. But I don’t understand this. I can’t fix or prevent or control this situation. I am sad, angry, and confused … and I feel guilty for being spared.

In times like these, though, I realize I don’t need to know everything. I just need to know Him.

Paul tells us in Philippians 4, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ.”

We pray for peace. We pray that God will calm our minds and hearts … and move our hands and feet to help our neighbors. We pray for Oklahoma.

John deSteiguer
President
Oklahoma Christian University

Two of the 24 victims who lost their lives in the EF5 tornado that hit Newcastle, Moore, and south Oklahoma City were related to OC alumni.

Nine-year-old Christopher Legg, a third-grader at Plaza Towers Elementary School, was the son of OC alumnus Ross Legg, grandson of OC grad Mark Legg, and the cousin of another OC alumnus, Brian Trumbly. The Leggs also lost their home. Brian set up a memorial fund for the Legg family. Click here to help financially.

Randy Smith, 39, was the brother of OC alumnus Brandon Smith, nephew of 1973 OC alumnus, David Hobbs and cousin of OC alum Micah Hobbs. Randy's son, Dylan Beard and Dylan's mother Katlin also lost their home in the tornado.

The following members of the OC family had houses that were a total loss:

• Ryan Frampton, OC alumnus - Lost his home; has a baby on the way.
• Jason Leger, OC alumnus and adjunct art instructor - Lost his home; you may have seen his story on several media outlets (see video below).
• Kristin Wallace, OC student - Parents lost their home.
• Brad Wedel, OC alumnus - Parents lost their home.

 Others impacted include:

• Tim and Karen Driskill, OC alumni; Karen is the registration coordinator in the Registrar’s Office - Lost their barn and had some roof and fence damage in Sunday’s tornado; temporarily without electricity.
• Murray Evans, OC alumnus and assistant athletic director for media relations - Separated all of Monday from wife and daughter; family reunited and safe. 9-year-old son lost close friend at Plaza Towers Elementary; temporarily without electricity.
• Robert and Charisa Goodrick, OC alumni - Roof and fence damage; temporarily without electricity.
• Josh Hilburn, husband of OC alumna Halie Hilburn - Electrocuted while building power lines in Shawnee on May 22; he suffered third-degree burns and has had three successful surgeries so far.
• Kevin Hixson, OC alumnus - Teacher at Briarwood Elementary; helped protect students from the tornado; was at the ER until late Monday.
• Cindy Lowe, OC alumna - Teacher at Briarwood Elementary; lost everything in her 1st grade classroom; sheltered students in her class. If you would like to contribute to a fund to help replace Cindy's classroom materials, email chris.adair@oc.edu.
• Victoria (Masten) Manning - Displaced due to house damage.
• Rhonda Morris, Associate Professor of Education - Home wasn’t damaged; temporarily without electricity.
• Karie and Aaron Richardson, OC alumni - Lost their barn and had some house damage in Sunday’s tornado.
• Kyle and Sam (Reed) Schasteen, OC alumni - Home slightly damaged.
• Jennifer Simonds, OC alumna - Teacher at Plaza Towers Elementary; went to ER after getting hurt laying over students to protect them. Money and gift cards from Mardel, Lakeshore Learning Center, Target and Wal-Mart are being collected to help Jennifer replace her classroom materials. For more info, email chris.adair@oc.edu.
• Jason and Sarah Thomason, OC alumni - Home wasn’t damaged; temporarily without electricity.
• John and Rebecca Reddish, OC alumni - Displaced after their home was damaged.

In addition to those listed, the tragedy hit close to home for many more who found shelter from the storms, but who now face the loss of friends and co-workers, and who now cope with the aftermath of such a traumatic event. Keep all of those affected in your prayers.

Contact jana.miller@oc.edu with updates, and please do what you can to help those affected by the tornadoes. In addition to the relief efforts mentioned above, you can click here for a sampling of congregations and organizations providing assistance.

We have the opportunity to provide general donations through several organizations, including our home congregations.

In addition, you can click this link to see a listing by the Christian Chronicle of churches of Christ and associated ministries that are providing relief and shelter.

The following is a list of other organizations along with the needs at this time. We also will post updates on relief efforts through Facebook and Twitter.

FEED THE CHILDREN

Feed The Children accepted donations from the public on Tuesday at the McCormick Distribution Center, 29 N. McCormick. Items accepted included diapers, canned goods, nonperishable food and snack items, water and sports drinks. Feed The Children is coordinating with other organizations and authorities at the scene to deliver disaster supplies as requests are received. Cash donations to help with relief efforts can be made by phone at 800-627-4556 or online at www.feedthechildren.org/disaster.

OKLAHOMA BAPTIST DISASTER RELIEF

With Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief teams already responding to severe weather from Sunday in several locations, including Shawnee, Edmond and Little Axe, Oklahoma Baptists are assisting with recovery efforts from the tornado that hit Moore. Those interested in helping can make a tax-deductible donation to the BGCO’s Disaster Relief ministry, by visiting www.bgco.org/donate or calling 405-942-3800. All money goes toward disaster relief and helping victims. For photos, information and updates, visit the Oklahoma Baptists’ blog at www.okdisasterhelp.com.

OKLAHOMA BLOOD INSTITUTE

Donors to the Oklahoma Blood Institute provide every drop of blood needed by patients in all metro-Oklahoma City hospitals and 140 others across the state. Presently, the state’s blood supply is adequate to meet the needs of patients in all hospitals caring for victims of the Moore tornado. Since there is no substitute for blood, the supply constantly needs to be replenished. Those with O-negative and Rh-negative blood types are most needed. Locations of donor centers and mobile blood drives can be found at www.obi.org.

RED CROSS

The Oklahoma Red Cross is asking people to donate $10 by texting “Red Cross” to 90999. Local Red Cross units will be dispatched throughout the damaged area. Those who are looking for family members can visit www.safeandwell.org.

REGIONAL FOOD BANK OF OKLAHOMA

The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, in partnership with Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, is asking that the public support all rescue, recovery and disaster relief efforts with donations of cash to your favorite responding charity. Donations of items such as clothing and supplies are strongly discouraged. Financial donations will allow disaster relief agencies to purchase whatever items are deemed necessary without resulting in the additional burden of securing warehouse space and volunteers to work donated product. To make a tax-deductible donation to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, go to www.regionalfoodbank.org or call 604-7111 or text FOOD to 32333 to give $10 to relief efforts.

SALVATION ARMY

The Salvation Army Arkansas-Oklahoma Division has dispatched disaster response teams. Donations can be made to: The Salvation Army Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 12600, Oklahoma City, OK 73157. Designate Oklahoma Tornado Relief on all checks. Donate by phone: (800) 725-2769. Donate online: donate.salvationarmyusa.org/uss/eds/aok.

TULSA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Tulsa Community Foundation, the nation’s largest community foundation, has established the Moore and Shawnee Tornado Relief Fund. This fund has received a lead gift of $100,000 from the George Kaiser Family Foundation. Contributions to the Moore and Shawnee Tornado Relief Fund can be made securely online at www.TulsaCF.org. Donations can also be mailed to TCF offices at 7030 S Yale, Suite 600, Tulsa, OK, 74136.

UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

United Way of Central Oklahoma has activated its disaster relief fund. Fund dollars will be distributed without administrative fees to United Way Partner Agencies working on the tornado relief efforts. To donate, go to www.unitedwayokc.org or give by mail to United Way of Central Oklahoma, P.O. Box 837, Oklahoma City, OK 73101 with notation for May Tornado Relief. For more information, contact Karla Bradshaw at kbradshaw@unitedwayokc.org.

This summer, more than 120 students, staff and faculty are leaving the comforts of home to serve and spread the Gospel in around 20 countries, showing that “OC is Mission,” too.

“We are motivated and encouraged by the pure hearts for service that so many OC students have,” deSteiguer said. “We commend them, as well as our many faculty and staff who exemplify OC’s Christian mission to spread the good news and serve others.”

OC summer missionaries will lead Bible studies, make new friends and work on service projects, all in the name of Jesus. Those traveling appreciate prayers for success and safety.

Last year, students serving in Tanzania, Africa, helped as a "bucket brigade" that put out a fire at a school dormitory. To read about updates on some of the current OC mission projects, visit OC’s Center for Global Mission’s Facebook page.

Below is a list of countries and the OC students, staff and faculty that are serving in each location.

Argentina: Madison Huntsman, Josh McCoy, Jenny Stewart

Australia: Adam Bowman, Kent and Nancy Hartman, Kyle Keesee

Austria and neighboring countries: Anna Berthold, Jillian Bryson, Kolby Calhoun, Bradford Eckhart, Daniel Griffin, Ryan Hinds, Elizabeth Maher, Payton Minzenmayer, Alexander McMannama, Candyce Moore, Afton Paris, Alex Powers, Brayden Reiter, Seth Reiter, Shelby Richards, Alissa Stephens, Hardeman Tucker, Hayley Waldo, Dylan White

Brazil: AnnaBeth Duncan, Kristine Pike, Mindi Powell, Jess Tucker

Burkina Faso: Quinn Fields, Chelsea Leigh, Jessica Parker, Caleb Smith

Canada: Zechariah McNeil

Chile: Abi Johnson, Caleb Johnson, Craig Johnson, Hannah Johnson, Kara Johnson, Sarah Johnson

Czech Republic: Clayton Brewer, Jeremy Lasso

Germany: Clyde and Gwen Antwine

Honduras: Eric Alberts, Erin Bailey, Hope Casey, Dudley Chancey, Kayla Cook, Meredith Corwin, Carli Covalt, Mariah Danley, Kelli Ewert, Miriam Flores, Linda Fly, Shawna Hood, Kym Langford, Bradley Litzkow, Peyton Moehlenbroch, Andrea Moore, Ivan Noffsker, Katie Pryor, Marion Rich, Kaitlyn Schemeissner, Liz Webb

Japan: Mitch Aufiero, Karley Davis, JoLin Nguyen

Peru: Kasey Aufiero, Kayla Frei

Russia: Branson Hartshorn

Rwanda: Bonaventure Bikorimana, Francois Birori, Ines Dushime, Becca Greenwood, Yves Iradukunda, Christelle Kwizera, Alyssa Lui, Yingui Lui, Hunter Marris, Jeanmarie Ndayisaba, Darian Russell, Ariette Sangwa, Paige Shaw, Marci Smith, Grace Umutesi, Diane Uwacu, Lauren Whitworth

Thailand and Cambodia: Jonna Bezner, Mahya Inoue

Tanzania: Bret Arnold, Eddie Brumley, Abbie Bryant, Bethany Dean, Molly Gettle, Mackenna Jones, Ben Langford, Jonathan Parker, Julianne Stinson, Stuart Woodfin

U.S.-based mission work: Kaler Campbell, Carley Cave, Amber Cox, Quinn Drake, Jamal George, Zeke Gustafson, Loryn Hammer, Sierra Harris, Kelsey Henson, Josh Jones, Dillon and Ariel Leu, Mike Lynn, Jessica Parker, Crystal Robinson

Do you know someone on a mission trip that is not on this list? Let us know! Please include their name and location.

“We are incredibly honored to add the combined wisdom, leadership and spiritual vision of these three accomplished executives to our Board of Trustees,” OC president John deSteiguer said. “Each of them has impressive experience leading organizations through growth while excelling in their service to clients and partners. They will help the board as it fulfills the mission of this excellent university.”

The OC Board of Trustees, led by chairman Don Millican, now has 38 active members and 14 life trustees.

Shumard, a 1985 OC graduate with a management degree, is vice president of Medical Doctor Associates in Norcross, Ga., a national physician staffing and recruiting company.

He also serves on the board of Predisan, an international Christian nonprofit organization that provides healthcare, community development and spiritual outreach to Honduras.

He and his wife Sandra, also an OC alum, have three sons: Luke, Travis and Jesse.

Dr. Walker is administrative director and a psychologist at the North Texas Pain Recovery Center in Arlington, Texas. He also is an adjunct professor of psychology at the University of North Texas, and he serves as the consulting psychologist for the Kennedale Fire Department.

Walker has been a member of OC’s National Alumni Council since 2011. After graduating from Oklahoma Christian in 1976, he earned five graduate degrees and accumulated more than 200 hours of graduate education.

He is a member of 11 professional associations and serves on the board of the Kennedale Public School District. He is an elder at Pleasant Ridge Church of Christ in Arlington.

Wilburn is co-founder and CEO of Just Between Friends Franchise Systems, Inc., the nation’s leading children’s and maternity consignment sales event.

In less than nine years, the company has established 132 franchises in 25 states, with several more under development. Its total sales were more than $23 million in 2012.

Wilburn and the company have been featured in “Entrepreneur” magazine and on “Good Morning America,” “The CBS Early Show,” “The Today Show,” CNN and FOX.

Oklahoma Christian, recognized as one of the best universities in the western United States by U.S. News and World Report and The Princeton Review, offers undergraduate programs in more than 60 fields of study, an undergraduate Honors Program and graduate programs in business, engineering, ministry and divinity.

For the last two years, the cost of attendance for OC undergraduate students has stayed the same, making Oklahoma Christian the only university in the state and the only reporting member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities that did not raise its total price. More information is available at www.oc.edu/value.

-OC-

KFOR recently featured Oklahoma Christian University professor Jeff Price in its "Is This a Great State or What?" series.

Price leads OC's gaming and animation program, which earned Oklahoma Christian national recognition from The Princeton Review. OC received honorable mention on The Review's list saluting the best undergraduate schools in the U.S. and Canada to study video game design.

Price also has vintage arcade games like Space Invaders, Pong, Defender and Centipede in his OC office. He uses them as teaching tools and, of course, to have some fun along the way.

Read more on KFOR.

-OC-

Oklahoma Christian officially unveiled the Lou Phillips Welcome Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by OC board members, faculty, staff, alumni and friends.

The new facility, located in the lobby of the Garvey Center, will serve as a beginning point for campus guests – including future students and parents touring the university. Made possible by a gift from Oklahoma City philanthropist Jose Freede, the venue also will house OC’s Office of Events and Campus Coordination.

During more than three decades at Oklahoma Christian, Lou Phillips was a longtime executive assistant and later served as coordinator of special projects.

She worked closely with five OC presidents – J. Terry Johnson, Kevin Jacobs, Alfred Branch, Mike O’Neal and John deSteiguer – and also served on the board of the Oklahoma Christian Women’s Association until her passing in January.

“Lou Phillips was such a dear friend to so many of us. She was known far and wide because she was hospitality ‘capitalized,’” deSteiguer said. “Lou had a way about her to make people feel welcomed, at home and special. I was especially blessed that she took me under her wing and helped me in lots of ways. She trained more presidents at Oklahoma Christian University than anybody else.”

In 1992, Phillips was the official hostess for President George H.W. Bush’s official campaign visit to Oklahoma Christian. She also helped coordinate George W. Bush’s 1990 visit to Oklahoma Christian on “University Day.” After Phillips’ passing, George W. Bush sent a personal letter of condolences to her family.

Just before she passed away, she told President deSteiguer to “take care of OC.” Those words are displayed in the Lou Phillips Welcome Center.

“My mom was really good at noticing people,” said Lori Walle, Phillips’ daughter. “She noticed students, staff, visitors, famous people, people nobody knew, workers, and people in her office. She noticed everyone – and everyone was important to her. I think that’s something we can all learn from. Wherever we are, we can notice people and make a difference in their lives.”

-OC-

Thursday evening, Charles Kaczorowski returned to a familiar and ultra-meaningful site.

Oklahoma Christian University is the only place in the world outside of New York City to have survivor trees from the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and the World Trade Center growing side by side. For the eighth year in a row, guests from New York have come on April 18 to commemorate the Oklahoma City bombing.

For Kaczorowski, the pilgrimage to the sacred spot located just west of the Mabee Learning Center is on his annual must-do list. He comes feeling like a drained battery, he said. He leaves re-energized, refreshed and restored.

TOO MANY FATEFUL DAYS

Back in 1990, while he was working for Shearson Lehman Hutton's facilities department, Kaczorowski had an office on the 106th floor of 2 World Trade Center.

Three years later, at 12:17 p.m. on Feb. 26, 1993, the Vietnam veteran was working in 3 World Financial Center on his lunch break in the concourse going down the escalator to the path trains for their schedule when the whole place shook.

“When I felt the concussion, it took me back to Vietnam,” said Kaczorowski, a Navy Seabee from 1969-70.

Terrorists had detonated 1,500 pounds of explosives in a van parked in the underground public lot of the World Trade Center two levels below the southern wall of the North Tower. The attack killed six people, injured more than 1,000 and created a five-story crater beneath the towers.

Less than a month later, the WTC was open for business.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Kaczorowski was arriving at the World Trade Center in New York City.

At about 9 a.m., he was coming from the subway station at Vesey and Church streets, delayed by a subway delay, which made him late for a scheduled 8:30 a.m. breakfast meeting in the Trade Center Concourse.

He emerged less than 25 yards from the North Tower.

“I saw the towers burning,” he said.

When the South Tower began collapsing, Kaczorowski was a block away. He ran as fast as humanly possible away from the dust cloud.

“I never looked back,” he said. “I just kept on running.”

He made it to a nearby building and took cover. Efforts to connect by phone with his wife were hampered by system overloads. Then he heard the North Tower coming down.

When the second tower fell, 35 years of his life were literally wiped clean from his mind and heart like it never existed, he said.

At 8 a.m. on Sept. 25, 2001, Kaczorowski returned to Ground Zero where he supervised the operations for the midnight-8 a.m. shift for the City of New York Department of Design and Construction until July 1, 2002.

Pieces of his memories gradually came back as bodies were recovered from Ground Zero. Like many others who were there he suffers from health issues related to breathing the air; he also has various issues related to his service in Vietnam.

‘I FIND PEACE’

At OC, Kaczorowski wasn’t alone. He was joined by survivors and others from New York and from Oklahoma.

During a chilly evening which looked and felt more like January than April 18, members of 419 Outreach, founded by Oklahoma City bombing family members, survivors and responders, Ronald Vega, director of design and construction of the National September 11 Memorial and OC representatives came together for a quiet ceremony near the survivor trees.

Since 2005, Kaczorowski has been coming to Oklahoma for the Oklahoma City bombing anniversary.

“When I first came here I was so touched by the memorial,” Kaczorowski said as the guests were about to be treated to dinner at OC. “This the most peaceful memorial in the entire country. I come here, seriously, on the 19th of April, I go out by the chairs, I lay down in the grass on my back and I cleanse my body, my soul, my mind and my heart. It’s so peaceful here. I find peace, tranquility and serenity here.”

When he leaves, he feels reborn.

Risa Forrester, OC’s vice president for admissions and marketing, said the campus is blessed to have the survivor trees and granite from the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and an iron cross from the World Trade Center at the site.

“For this group to choose our home to put these items at our place is really, really special for our family here,” she said.

When people come from across the world on campus tours, the spot is a must-see place, Forrester said. It helps them remember that peace is paramount and no matter what good always wins, she said.

Neil Arter, OC’s vice president for student life and dean of students, said every year the ceremony is special. Guests never want to forget and there is something more.

“We kind of have these living heroes,” Arter said of the New York and Oklahoma folks. “They come and they really just show you everything that’s great about human nature.”

Gabbi Cook's parents were missionaries in Peru and planned a quick visit to the U.S. in August. Unexpectedly, doctors found cancer in Gabbi's liver and her parents have had to give up their missionary calling. Luckily, Gabbi received a new liver right before Christmas, but her family has incurred numerous health expenses. 

Kid President mentioned Gabbi at the end of one of his most popular videos, OC students are doing good on Gabbi's behalf through the 30 Day 30k campaign aimed at inspiring 30,000 people do good works on Gabbi's behalf. Those good deeds include raising money, but giving encouragement and praise are sometimes just as important. 

Talented OC students and alumni Sandra Peck, Brett Vanderzee and Laura Vanderzee are performing. Students are also selling drinks, snacks and balloon animals. The event will conclude around 8:30 p.m.

To learn more about helping Gabbi, visit Facebook.com/30day30k, twitter.com/30day30k or the donation page at Give Forward. 

The "Murdered My Wisdom Teeth" video of her dental adventure (above) went viral on YouTube, and she's been interviewed by ABC's Good Morning America and Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Watch her interview with Jimmy Kimmel here:

Here's her appearance on GMA Live!:

Abbie is a sophomore family studies major from Coffeyville, Kansas. Her aunt, Shelley Kurt, writes about life as the parent of two OC students in her "Leaving the Nest" blog.

-OC-

-OC-

This follows the American Marketing Association’s Oklahoma City chapter renaming its Lifetime Achievement Award after Smith, a professor of marketing and MBA advisor in Oklahoma Christian’s School of Business Administration. He received the organization’s only lifetime achievement award in 2008.

These awards reflect Smith’s servant leadership approach to his field and his commitment to helping his community. In 2011, Smith served as auctioneer (another of his many talents) to help raise more than $150,000 for injured Oklahoma City police officer Chad Peery, a father of four facing significant medical bills.

OC MBA alumna Dee Patty, a former student of Smith’s who works for the police department, organized the “Taking Care of Our Own” benefit event.

“I remember Dr. Burt being so enthusiastic and excited about his work at OC that I looked more into the work he did outside the school. It was there I discovered he was also an auctioneer and worked some of the benefit auctions put on by actor Mark Harmon. I knew we needed to have him for our auction,” Patty said.

Patty has since been asked to be a consultant by other officers wishing to put fundraising events together for Officer Peery and other first responders injured in the line of duty in the metro area. She also has taken the “Taking Care of Our Own” name further to make it a nonprofit organization to continue to raise funds for first responders injured in the line of duty.

According to Smith, when people meet Chad, they are impressed with what an upbeat spirit he has despite what has happened.

“His ability to inspire has not been exaggerated,” Smith said. “I only visited with him for a little while because he had tons of folks lined up who wanted to thank him. In the short time I spent with him, I was impressed with what a powerful human being he is.”

Smith said he was also very proud of how his former student used her leadership and organizational skills to help make the event such a success.

“People have no idea how much planning, detail and just plain hard work goes into an event like this,” Smith said. “Dee and her team can take great pride in the way they orchestrated this event. It really was something to behold.”

-OC-